I am as guilty as the next person for staying in my comfort zone and eating what I know and love. I think that this is particularly true in the winter when I go into hibernating mode and eat familiar foods, drink beers at happy hour, and go to sleep. It’s hard for me to get motivated to try new things. So when a friend suggested that we go out to Pericos one night, I was excited about trying a new restaurant and their signature drink, the Parrot Tail.
I went on a Thursday night and the restaurant was packed because it was Mariachi night. Even though it was a little chilly outside, we decided to eat on the patio because we were both hungry (and hoped that the Parrot Tails might warm us up). Unfortunately, none of the Mariachis came out on the patio (I think it was too frio for them), but our waiter told us that Perico’s pays them to play songs until 10:00PM. Just remember to tip them when they play Tu Solo Tu for you and your special friend.
I think that it is perfectly acceptable for a guy to get a girlie drink if it is the featured drink of a restaurant. However, I might be saying this to make me feel better about getting a pink cocktail. At any rate, I ordered the Parrot Tail which has vodka, coconut rum, Triple Sec, Hypnotic, cranberry juice, and sweet and sour mix. Of course, it is garnished with sugar on the rim (which makes it all the more girlie), but you know what, it tastes great. The Parrot Tail would be a perfect drink on their spacious outdoor patio when the weather warms up. In fact you will probably catch me throwing some down on a Tuesday night when they are on special for $2.
I hadn’t had any cheese enchiladas in a while and decided to order them. As opposed to many restaurants in town where you get two enchiladas on a plate, Perico’s ups the ante and serves you three! Be sure to pay the small up charge to get the cheese enchiladas topped with chile con carne.
The plate was filled to the brim with food when the waiter brought it out. I really enjoyed the refried beans, and Perico’s was spot on with the rice. The enchiladas were delicious as well. While the chili con carne didn’t have big chunks of meat a la Tito’s, it did add a lot to the flavor of the enchiladas and had a spicy taste.
My friend ordered the chipotle enchiladas, and after having a bite of them, I knew what I will order next time. The three enchiladas are filled with chicken and topped with a chipotle sauce, Monterrey Jack cheese, and cilantro. The sauce was very creamy, thick, and rich and the chicken tasted like it had stewed in spices for a while.
While you might have to wait a while for good weather to enjoy the Pericos patio, the enchiladas and Parrot Tails make it worth your while to stop by today.
Value: 9.5/10 (about $10 a plate for a dinner with a $5 Parrot Tail (you can get it on special for $2 on a Tuesday night))
Atmosphere: 9.5/10 (awesome patio and they have free mariachis on Thursday night)
Service: 8/10 (normal service with a friendly waiter)
Salsa: 9/10 (I really liked the roasted salsa; it is a little spicier than other roasted salsas in town)
Taste: 9.5/10 (loved the rice; the cheese enchiladas were great, but the chipotle enchiladas stole the show)
Website: http://pericosgrill.com/
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